Creative Entrepreneur
Have you ever felt as if your creative path was just meant to be? That’s precisely how Sonali Dixit feels about her foray into jewelry design. Growing up in Kathmandu, Nepal, a city famed for its rich artistic traditions, she was immersed in creativity practically from birth. “It’s
art
A Conversation with Kent Stetson This year, Kent Stetson, an artisan handbag designer, is celebrating two decades of creative entrepreneurship. His niche is handcrafted handbags that double as art. Initially, the artist explored selling his paintings, but the endeavor wasn’t for him. Here, Kent shares why he cut up
creative business
Rachel Frank and Lori Berlinghof launched their handmade luxury jewelry brand, Elements Studio NYC, in 2015. With designs influenced by the earth’s elements, it’s no surprise that Rachel and Lori cast their pieces in recycled gold and only use ethically sourced stones. The design duo’s Bowie Collection
artist
As teens twins Eva and Yvette Estime loved watching anime and flipping through Japanese street fashion magazines—interests that would influence their future careers. Fast-forward to 2020, when the sisters founded Dirty Celebrity, an indie fashion brand. “Our accessories line takes inspiration from Japanese streetwear, American punk and pop culture—
art
Addie Rawr is the very definition of a creative entrepreneur as a watercolor illustrator, sticker maker, greeting card designer and all-around creative powerhouse. She got her start by seeing a huge gap in the greeting card marketplace—she couldn’t find designs that represented her friends and family. So Addie
Creative Entrepreneur
Many people who want to be creative entrepreneurs wonder if they can run a business while working full time. Kelly Wilcox is an example of someone who does, and here is her story. Kelly was pregnant with her second child and frustrated with her options for maternity wear. “I was
art
When artist and illustrator Louma El-Khoury couldn’t bear to give away her daughter’s precious baby clothes, she created a way to display them as DIY keepsakes. Her friends and family spotted the artwork and asked Louma to create pieces for them. That’s when the artist knew it
clothing
Can you change careers in your 50s? Shreya Patel did. She is the co-founder, designer and creative director at Tanisi, an ethical women’s clothing brand featuring chic designs with Indian panache. Shreya’s founder story inspires us on multiple levels. For one, she moved to the U.S. with
art
Interview with Jewelry Artist Kaelen Van Cura Kaelen Van Cura is the artist behind Darling Marcelle, a line of unique jewelry designs. She believes art and artists make the world a better, more beautiful and happier place, and art inspires her eclectic designs. Darling Marcelle “makes bold, weird jewelry for
artist
Lynn Woods is a content creator at Back to the South, a blog about DIY home decor and party planning. She is also a home decor stylist and founder of Back to the South Bling, where she sells sparkly goods. We chatted with Lynn to learn more about her maker
creative entrepreur
As a child, Rachel Reinhardt made necklaces from her grandmother’s vintage button collection—she was drawn to the colors and loved creating. As an adult, Rachel worked in the fashion jewelry business learning the trade. But a day out with her late mother changed the course of her career.
Creative Entrepreneur
Djennin Casab is a jewelry designer at E’lur Wrist Designs, a handmade luxury jewelry brand that celebrates African and Latin American cultures using AAA-grade gemstones and precious metals. After visiting her home country, Djennin was inspired to explore and reimagine her Mexican heritage through art, which took shape as
Creative Entrepreneur
Jamie Batiste is the founder of Rejected Hearts Club, a fashion brand born from a mission to take a negative experience and turn it into something positive. Rejected Hearts Club features handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, earrings, cufflinks and clothing. Her designs have been featured in Vogue, Essence, New York Fashion Week
Creative Entrepreneur
Back in 2019 Andrea Carneiro noticed tie-dye goods slowly creeping into stores. So she and a friend experimented with the dye method one Sunday as a way to unwind and have a little fun. What started as a creative outlet turned into a passion for Andrea. “I got hooked, and
creative inspiration
Peggy Li is the founder of Peggy Li, a woman-, Asian American- and Pacific Islander-owned jewelry brand. You may have spotted her designs on television, including “Arrow,” “Dead to Me,” “The Vampire Diaries,” “Private Practice,” “Witches of East End,” “Riverdale, “New Girl” and other hit shows. Peggy Li’s handmade
career change
After immigrating to the United States from Greece in 2019, Vicky Gkarmiri launched Next Door Goddess, a brand of limited-edition statement jewelry pieces inspired by her homeland. Though designing jewelry had been her passion for many years, Vicky’s decision to start Next Door Goddess wasn’t an easy one.